assail

[ uh-seyl ]

verb (used with object)

1. to attack vigorously or violently; assault.
2. to attack with arguments, criticism, ridicule, abuse, etc.:

   to assail one's opponent with slander.

   Synonyms: malign, asperse

3. to undertake with the purpose of mastering:

   He assailed his studies with new determination.

4. to impinge upon; make an impact on; beset:

   His mind was assailed by conflicting arguments.

   The light assailed their eyes.

assail

/ əˈseɪl /

verb

1. to attack violently; assault
2. to criticize or ridicule vehemently, as in argument
3. to beset or disturb

   his mind was assailed by doubts

4. to encounter with the intention of mastering

   to assail a problem

   to assail a difficult mountain ridge

Derived Forms

• asˈsailable, adjective
• asˈsailer, noun
• asˈsailment, noun

Other Word Forms

• as·saila·ble adjective
• as·saila·ble·ness noun
• as·sailer noun
• as·sailment noun
• unas·sailed adjective
• unas·sailing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of assail¹

1175–1225; Middle English asaylen < Old French asalir < Late Latin assalīre, equivalent to Latin as- as- + salīre to leap, spring

Word History and Origins

Origin of assail¹

C13: from Old French asalir, from Vulgar Latin assalīre (unattested) to leap upon, from Latin assilīre, from salīre to leap

Synonym Study

See attack.

Example Sentences

At the last game in the Coliseum, desperate fans assailed the owner with loud chants of “Sell the Team.”

From Los Angeles Times

District Judge David O. Carter criticized LAHSA’s numbers as untrustworthy, assailed it over its financial controls and even denounced the location of its offices.

From Los Angeles Times

"A person who worships at the altar of Donald Trump will kneel before him, not stand up to him," he said, while assailing his main rival, Poilievre.

From BBC

Francis merely urged everyone to read up on their Gospels, where Jesus consistently assailed the rich, lionized the poor and lingered with the meek instead of the mighty.

From Los Angeles Times

“Teuchitlán: National Shame,” read a banner at an angry rally last weekend in Guadalajara, where protesters chanted, “Narcos out!” and assailed politicians’ complicity with organized crime.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bash
• berate
• blast
• criticize
• impugn
• lambaste
• revile
• trash
• vilify